The Argonaut Mine is a silver, lead, and copper mine located in Dolores county, Colorado at an elevation of 8,996 feet.
About the MRDS Data:
All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.
Mine Info
Elevation: 8,996 Feet (2,742 Meters)
Commodity: Silver, Lead, Copper
Lat, Long: 37.68444, -108.03861
Map: View on Google Maps
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Argonaut Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Argonaut Mine
Commodity
Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Primary: Copper
Tertiary: Zinc
Location
State: Colorado
County: Dolores
District: Pioneer (Rico) District
Land Status
Land ownership: National Forest
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.
Administrative Organization: San Juan N. F.
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Colorado Plateaus
Physiographic Section: Canyon Lands
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Polymetallic replacement
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Description: San Juan Uplift, Paradox Basin
Type: L
Description: Rico Dome
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Paleocene
Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Pennsylvanian
Name: Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Pennsylvanian
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Comments
Comment (Workings): LOWER CROSSCUT TUNNEL DRIVEN SW FOR 125 FT TO VEIN, WITH 150 FT OF ACCESSIBLE DRIFT ON VEIN TRENDING N 40 E; STOPED THROUGH TO UPPER TUNNEL, WHICH LIES 50 FT HIGHER AND OF UNKNOWN EXTENT.
Comment (Location): (LAND STATUS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREA LOCATIONS CALCULATED USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS FOR SAN JUAN N. F.). ON SOUTH SIDE OF SULPHUR CREEK 0.35 MILE ABOVE DOLORES RIVER CONFLUENCE (UNSURVEYED SECTION). ELEV AND LAT-LONG GIVEN ARE FROM MCKNIGHT, 1974, PL. 1 (1930 BASE). ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1975
Comment (Deposit): LODE CUT IN LOWER TUNNEL TRENDS N 40 E, 60 NW AND CONSISTS OF BASE-METAL SULFIDES AND PYRITE IN GANGUE OF SPONGY, VUGGY QUARTZ OCCURRING ON BOTH FOOT AND HANGING WALLS. VEIN CUTS THROUGH TOP OF PORPHYRY, BUT OVERLYING BRECCIATED SHALE AND SILICIFIED LIMESTONE APPARENTLY CONTAIN NO ORE.
References
Reference (Deposit): RANSOME, F.L., 1901, THE ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO MOUNTAINS, COLORADO: USGS 22D ANN. REPT., PT. 2, P. 360.
Reference (Deposit): MCKNIGHT, E.T., 1974, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE RICO DISTRICT,COLORADO: USGS PROF. PAPER 723.
Reference (Deposit): PRATT, W.P., AND OTHERS, 1969, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE RICO QUADRANGLE, DOLORES AND MONTEZUMA COUNTIES, COLORADO: USGS MAP GQ-797.
Colorado Mining Photos
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